AAP Supplement in the Philippine Daily Inquirer February 18, 2012

CONTENTS:

Insurance commission and pira approve motor car tariff rate increase Stockinger joins top-ranking gp3 team FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) Notice of aap general membership meeting and elections AAP reiterates opposition to e-tagging of private motor vehicles FIA TRAINING GRANT TO BENEFIT PHILIPPINE MOTOR SPORTS by MANDY EDUQUE PGRSP bares plans for 2012

INSURANCE COMMISSION AND PIRA APPROVE MOTOR CAR TARIFF RATE INCREASE

AAP members renewing their membership have been inquiring about the sudden increase in their total motorcar insurance premium payment compared to what they used to pay.

AAP and its partner insurance providers (Federal Phoenix Assurance Co. Inc., Malayan Insurance Co. and FLT Prime Insurance) explained that the Office of the Insurance Commission, which regulates the premiums for the mandatory Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) and Property Damage coverage, approved the request by the Philippine Insurance Rating Association (PIRA) for an increase of 50 percent in premiums. The increase took effect December 5, 2011.

Meanwhile, all other rules and regulations related to Property Damage in the

Motorcar Manual of rates will remain in force. AAP members are encouraged to call 855-5889 local 822 for more details

regarding CTPL and Property Damage insurance coverage.

THE END

STOCKINGER JOINS TOP-RANKING GP3 TEAM

Filipino-Swiss race driver Marlon Stockinger has agreed to join the Silverstone, U.K.-

based Status Grand Prix for 2012 as he embarks on his second season in the GP3 Series.

The brightest driving talent to emerge from the Philippines in two decades, the 20-year-

old Stockinger returns to the Formula One support series after a strong end-of-season testing

campaign with Status GP last autumn. The Manila-based driver regularly finished among the

Top 5 of the time sheets at the Barcelona, Valencia and Jerez and impressed the team with his

approach and feedback.

Status GP has the second highest tally of wins since the category began in 2010. In the

2011 GP3 Series, Status scored victories with two drivers. The 2012 GP3 Series will be fought

out at eight Formula One Grands Prix across Europe, including the new addition of a round at

the Monaco Grand Prix. Drivers will be competing for a new prize from tire supplier Pirelli,

which provides the GP3 champion with a Euro 200,000 reward towards a GP2 Series drive.

Stockinger was formerly a Formula BMW scholar and race-winner in Formula Renault

UK/ Regarding Stockinger’s joining Status GP, Automobile Association Philippines Motor

Sports Committee chair Mandy Eduque said that he is with a better team this year, Status GP

being one of the top three GP3 teams.

“Also, Marlon is now managed by the principal of the F1 Lotus-Renault team,” Eduque

added. “So he now has a direct path to F1 --- if he does well. He got into this new team due to

his good showing last year, but he is still paying his way and looking for sponsors.”

THE END

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) About the Philippine International Driving Permit (PIDP) 1. What are the requirements for getting a Philippine International Driving Permit?

1) Original and valid Philippine Driving License (valid for at least one year) 2) Two pieces 2X2 color ID picture, white background or passport size 3) Foreign nationals, dual citizens and Filipino citizens born in other countries must

present the original passport plus photocopies of pages showing identification and date of last arrival. If you are a permanent resident, present your passport and/or Alien Certificate Registration along with requirements nos.1 and 2.

4) Authorization and any valid ID of representative in case of non-appearance 5) Photocopies of nos. 1, 3 and 4 6) Php 1,800, broken down as follows:

Php 1, 500 – Membership fee (new member) * Php 300 – PIDP processing fee

* AAP grants a P300 discount to applicants who present valid proof of their being an overseas Filipino worker, e.g., Seaman’s passport, employment contract abroad with valid POEA ID.

2. Can I apply for a PIDP even if I am out of the country? Yes, you can apply for a PIDP as long as you have all the requirements and your Philippine license is valid for at least a year. All the requirements must be submitted together with your authorization letter and any valid ID of your representative 3. In what countries is the PIDP honored? The Philippine International Driving Permit is honored in almost all countries that are signatories to the 1949 and 1968 United Nations Convention Road Traffic. In some states in the United States, an international driving permit is no longer required. You may drive using your valid Philippine driver’s license for a pre-defined period of time , usually 30 days from arrival. This varies from state to state so you are advised to consult with the transportation bureau in the state where you are traveling. About Emergency Roadside Service (ERS) 1. What if a member’s car experiences a breakdown outside of AAP’s service

areas, will AAP ERS still assist him or her? Yes. However, beyond the defined service area limits, the distance travelled by the AAP service vehicle will be charged against the member’s entitlement.

2. If someone else is driving a member’s registered car, may said driver call for assistance?

Yes. 3. If a member is not in a car registered under his membership – for example, in

a friend’s car -- may he or she call AAP ERS for assistance? Yes, but he or she must be actually present at the site until the AAP ERS crew.arrives.

THE END

NOTICE OF AAP GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND ELECTIONS

81st AAP Annual General Membership Meeting

The 81st AAP Annual General Membership Meeting and Elections will be held on April

26, 2012, Thursday, at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Ramon Magsaysay Ave., University of the

Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Registration starts at 2:00 p.m.

Deadline for nominations to the AAP Board

In preparation for this year’s general membership meeting and annual elections, the

AAP Nominations Committee is accepting nominations for the 2012-2013 Board of Directors.

AAP members in good standing (with no unpaid or unsettled obligations) may submit a

nomination to the Nominations Committee. Nominees should meet the following criteria:

Must be a bona fide AAP member for at least one year.

Must be able and willing to devote time and energy to attend the meetings and activities

of the AAP as a member of the Board of Directors.

Must send a brief resume to the Nominations Committee, c/o AAP Executive Office, 28

EDSA, Greenhills San Juan City 1500. The deadline for submission of nominations is

April 16, 2012.

Must pass the evaluation of the Nominations Committee. The evaluation will focus on

the willingness of the nominee to devote his/her time and energy to the Association.

Must be present at AAP’s general membership meeting on April 26, 2012.

After their election, the members of the Board of Directors choose among themselves the

president, vice president, treasurer and chairpersons of nine committees.

THE END

AAP reiterates opposition to e-tagging of private motor vehicles

Recently, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that the

electronic tagging of public utility buses will proceed now that the mayors of Metro Manila have

approved it. In this context, the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) reiterates its

opposition to the e-tagging of privately owned motor vehicles.

On March 1, 2010, AAP filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to intervene in

the case filed by Bayan Muna Party-List, et al against the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

project of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation

Office (LTO) and STRADCOM Corporation. The AAP petition opposes the electronic tagging of

privately owned motor vehicles under the said project.

In its petition, AAP asserted that AAP members stand to be directly injured or have

actually been injured by the implementation of the RFID Project. AAP prayed that the Supreme

Court (a) nullify the RFID Project; (b) declare the two Memorandum Circulars of the DOTC and

LTO and the RFID Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between LTO and STRADCOM as

invalid, unconstitutional and ultra-vires; (c) order the DOTC and LTO to reimburse the RFID fees

collected; and (d) to permanently enjoin the RFID project.

AAP asked the Supreme Court to stop the RFID project on the ground that it is

unconstitutional as it violates a car owner’s right to privacy. In its Resolution dated January 12,

2010, the Supreme Court issued a Status Quo Ante Order directing the temporary halt in the

implementation of the RFID project.

LTO records indicate that roughly 30 million pesos are due for refund to some 85,537

motor vehicle owners who paid the P350 fee when they registered or renewed the registration of

their cars starting in November 2009.

AAP’s opposition to the e-tagging of private motor vehicles is part of the club’s road

safety campaign, which has been a priority commitment of AAP since it was founded as the

Philippine Motor Association in 1931. At that time, “The promotion of rights and privileges of all

motorists for better and safer motoring” was declared among the objectives of the newly

organized auto club. In pursuit of this objective, AAP board members paid a courtesy call on

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino in mid-2011 to offer the club’s cooperation with MMDA projects

and activities that seek to improve road safety and traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

FIA TRAINING GRANT TO BENEFIT PHILIPPINE MOTOR SPORTS

by MANDY EDUQUE

AAP Director and Chair, AAP Motor Sports Committee

The future of motor sports in the Philippines looks great now that the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) has obtained approval from the Federation Internationale d’Automobile (FIA) for a grant of 117,992 euros for the upgraded training of local motor sport event officials.

The grant is only one of a few given by the FIA every year since 2008 to National Sporting Authorities (NSAs) around the world who submit project proposals to the FIA for funding and whose proposed projects are considered deserving by the FIA Institute, which administers the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund (MSSDF)..

The MSSDF is an offshoot of the approximately 100 million euros fine collected by the FIA from McLaren after investigating the McLaren-Ferrari dispute during the 2007 Formula One season. The FIA, then under the presidency of Max Mosley, decided to use the money to set up the MSSDF to enable NSAs under the FIA umbrella to improve and upgrade the safety standards of motor sport events in their countries as well as establish uniform norms and standards globally. The MSSDF has three components. The Facility Improvement Program is intended to help countries improve or build motor sport venues to world-class safety standards. The second - the Young Driver Safety Program - is intended to identify talented and promising young race and rally drivers from any country, send them to an FIA training facility for a one-year immersion program whereby they are taught not only how to drive better but also how to become driving safety ambassadors to their countries when they return from the program. The third component - the Officials Safety Training Program - seeks to upgrade the technical expertise and capabilities of local motor sport officials to ensure that the highest standards of safety are maintained in every country. It is this third component to which AAP successfully applied for a grant. AAP applied for a grant under the FIA Institute’s Officials Safety Training Program in anticipation of the possible inclusion of the Philippines in the popular V8 Supercars Series in 2013. Originally an Australian local national series, V8 Supercars has expanded worldwide and media-wise to become the third most popular motor sport series in the world. Only Formula One and NASCAR have a larger global audience than V8 Supercars. Its franchise has expanded well beyond Australia and, in 2012, will include China, Dubai and Texas on its calendar. The organizers of V8 Supercars are working on bringing their Series to the Philippines next year. V8 Supercars will depend heavily on local officials for their event in this country. AAP felt that, in order to ensure that local motor sport officials would be up to the challenge and show the racing world that Filipino motor sport officials are second to none, their skills, while more than adequate for local events, need to be upgraded to world-class standards. For this reason, AAP prepared a project funding proposal, sent it to the FIA Institute for consideration and gained their approval.

AAP applied for funding from the MSSDF in partnership and with the assistance of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sports (CAMS) - AAP's counterpart NSA in Australia - who will conduct the training program during 2012. CAMS has been chosen by the FIA as one of only a handful of NSAs around the world accredited as a Regional Training Provider. This means that CAMS is rated by the FIA Institute to be as capable as the Institute itself in training local officials in its own region. The fact that it was CAMS who, in only one year, trained local Indian officials for the first Formula One race in India in 2011, is a testament to their training acumen. AAP is thankful to the FIA and the FIA Institute for the Officials Safety Training grant. AAP looks forward to working with CAMS throughout 2012 to implement the training program. Not only will it develop the ability of Filipinos to officiate at world-class international events such as V8 Supercars, in a broader sense the FIA grant will redound to the benefit of Philippine motor sports as it will assure every Filipino competitor the same high level and standard of officiating as in the highest strata of motor sports worldwide.

THE END

PGRSP BARES PLANS FOR 2012

The strategic planning workshop of the Philippine Global Road Safety

Partnership (PGRSP) held January 20, 21, 2012 at the Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.

in Pillila, Rizal listed the following priorities to enable and expand Philippine road safety

projects and initiatives : Review, amend ,and reinforce the procedure in the acquisition

of licenses; Facilitate the training of drivers to instill discipline and obedience to traffic

regulations; Design a communication campaign on lane discipline.

The PGRSP, which is chaired by the AAP president and has its secretariat office

at the AAP building in Quezon City, was launched on July 29, 2009. to facilitate the

sustainable reduction of road traffic casualties through partnerships between business,

civil society and the government, and to identify and promote support projects of

partners that are designed to test and demonstrate good practices in reducing the

number of road casualties.

The PGRSP is the Philippine partner of the Global Road Safety Partnership

(GRSP), a Geneva-based program of the International Federation of Red Cross and

Red Crescent Societies that brings together government, private sector and civil society

organizations to address road safety problems in low and middle-income countries. The

other GRSP partners in Asia are China, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Aside from AAP, the incorporators of PGRSP are (alphabetically listed) the

Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), Ford Group

Philippines, Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association, Motorcycle

Development Program Participants Association, Inc., Philippine Long Distance

Telephone Co. (PLDT-Smart Foundation), Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Tollways

Association of the Philippines and the Truck Manufacturers Association.

New members are the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).

CITRA, Safe Kids Philippines and ActivAsia. The PGRSP is supported by the

Departments of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Public Works and

Highways (DPWH) and Health (DOH). #

PGRSP PLANNING WORKSHOP. Actively present at the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership

(PGRSP) Jan. 20-21, 2012 Planning Workshop held at Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. in Pillila, Rizal were:

(Front row left to right) Reina Macababad (UP National Center for Transportation Studies), Corazon Japson (DOTC),

Alberto Suansing (PGRSP), Gus Lagman (AAP president), Chito Borromeo (Tollways Association of the Philippines-

TAP), Marte Perez (Safe Kids Philippines), Aileen Mappala (UP-NCTS), Tess Ronquillo (UP-NCTS)

(Second row fleft to right), Vince Araneta (ActivAsia), Cynthia Reyes (AAP), Bobby Dizon (ActivAsia), Boy Isidro

(Pilipinas Shell), Frank Nacua (Truck Manufacturers Association- TMA), Nathanael Fernandez (Tollways

Management Corporation- TMC), Johnny Angeles (AAP vice president), Eli dela Cruz (CITRA Metro Manila Tollways

Corp), Jake Bingcang (BCDA) , Randolph Austria (BCDA.).